On March 4, 2011, New Haven police arrested 39-year-old Aaron Thomas and confirmed that he is the "East Coast Rapist" who has been terrorizing women with sexual assaults from Virginia to Rhode Island for over 13 years. Thomas was arrested for first-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor and he is being held on $1 million bond. Thomas is wanted for 17 rapes and other attacks in Connecticut, Maryland, Rhode Island and Virginia since 1997. According to the New Haven Register, Thomas was caught after authorities followed him for several days, having received a tip about a man who had a recent court appearance on an unrelated matter. Law Enforcement waited for an opportunity to collect a sample of his DNA. Finally, authorities were able to obtain a cigarette butt that Thomas discarded. The DNA retrieved was a positive match to the DNA profile of the "East Coast Rapist."